在休士頓，聆聽一位前總理談世界

今晚，我來到德州波蘭商會（PolChamTX）年會會場。冬夜的休士頓略帶寒意，大廳裡卻燈火通明、賓客雲集，從服裝、談吐到眼神，都看得出來這是一個充滿國際視野與商業抱負的社群。

年會正式開始前，最受矚目的，就是波蘭前總理馬泰烏什・莫拉維茨基（Mateusz Morawiecki）的專題演說。他一走上講台，全場安靜下來，聚光燈落在他身上，也照亮了我們這個時代正在面臨的課題。

莫拉維茨基從歐洲的安全局勢談起，提到俄烏戰爭帶來的長期衝擊，能源供應的重組，以及北約、防務合作對歐洲與世界的重要性。他強調，波蘭位於地緣政治的十字路口，既承受壓力，也因此更清楚自由與安全的價值。

接著，他把視野拉到跨大西洋關係，談到波蘭和美國之間的合作，特別提到德州在能源、科技與國防產業中的關鍵角色。他說，今天的國際貿易與投資，不只是冷冰冰的數字與合約，而是一個國家如何與盟友共享風險、共擔責任的體現。

坐在台下，我一邊聽，一邊想到我們在休士頓這片土地上，所參與的每一項國際交流——波蘭、亞洲、拉美、歐洲，不同的國家、不同的語言，卻在同一個城市交會。國際政治的波濤，最後總是會反映在具體的能源價格、供應鏈布局、移民政策與社區生活上。

莫拉維茨基也提到民主與法治的重要。他說，社會可以在政黨之間輪替，在政策路線上辯論，但如果對自由與民主失去信念，經濟再繁榮、科技再進步，終究會失去方向。這番話，讓我想到這些年在媒體與金融領域走過的道路：新聞是事實的記錄，也是價值的守望；金融則是資本的流動，更是信任的體現。

會場裡，有企業家、有外交官、有學者，也有像我一樣長期關注國際局勢與社區發展的人。看著這樣的組合，我再次感受到，休士頓早已不是單純的一座城市，而是一個縮小版的全球舞台。今天聽一位波蘭前總理談歐洲與世界，其實也是在照見我們自己城市的角色——我們站在能源、移民、多元文化與國際合作的交會點上。

年會結束時，賓客們三三兩兩互相寒暄、交換名片、合影留念。有人談起未來的投資計畫，有人談到留學生與專業人才的交流，也有人關心戰爭陰影下的歐洲前景。這些對話，讓我更確信：真正有遠見的城市與社群，永遠不只盯著眼前的利益，而是把自己放進世界的大棋盤裡思考位置。

走出會場，夜色已深。抬頭看著寧靜的德州星空，我心裡浮現一個念頭：在這個多事之秋，能在休士頓聽到來自波蘭的聲音，本身就是一種時代的交會。世界看似分裂，實際上，我們的命運早已緊緊相連。

Listening to a Former Prime Minister Talk About the World, in Houston

Tonight I attended the annual gala of the Polish-Texas Chamber of Commerce (PolChamTX). The winter air in Houston carried a slight chill, but inside the ballroom it was bright, warm, and filled with guests whose dress, conversation, and demeanor all reflected an international outlook and strong business ambitions.

Before the gala officially began, the most anticipated moment was the keynote speech by former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. As he walked onto the stage, the room fell silent. The spotlight fell on him, but it also illuminated the challenges of our time.

Morawiecki began with the security situation in Europe, speaking about the long-term impact of the war in Ukraine, the reorganization of energy supplies, and the importance of NATO and defense cooperation for Europe and the wider world. He emphasized that Poland stands at a geopolitical crossroads—under pressure, yet acutely aware of the value of freedom and security.

He then shifted to the broader transatlantic relationship, discussing cooperation between Poland and the United States, with a special mention of Texas and its critical role in energy, technology, and defense industries. He noted that today’s global trade and investment are not just about cold numbers and contracts, but about how nations share risk and shoulder responsibility with their allies.

Sitting in the audience, I found myself thinking about the international exchanges we participate in here in Houston—Poland, Asia, Latin America, Europe. Different countries and different languages converge in this one city. The waves of global politics eventually show up in very concrete ways: in energy prices, supply chain decisions, immigration policies, and the daily life of our communities.

Morawiecki also spoke about the importance of democracy and the rule of law. A society can rotate power between political parties and debate its policy direction, he said, but if it loses faith in freedom and democracy, then no matter how prosperous its economy or advanced its technology, it will eventually lose its sense of purpose. His words reminded me of my own journey in media and finance: journalism records facts but also guards values; finance moves capital but ultimately rests on trust.

In the hall there were entrepreneurs, diplomats, scholars, and people like me who have long cared about international affairs and community development. Looking at this mix of people, I felt once again that Houston is no longer just a city—it is a miniature global stage. Listening to a former Polish prime minister talk about Europe and the world is, in a way, also a reflection of our own role: we stand at the intersection of energy, immigration, multiculturalism, and international cooperation.

When the gala ended, guests lingered in small groups, exchanging greetings, business cards, and photos. Some discussed future investment plans; others talked about student and professional exchanges; still others wondered about Europe’s future under the shadow of war. These conversations deepened my conviction that truly visionary cities and communities don’t focus only on short-term gain; they place themselves consciously on the larger global chessboard.

By the time I stepped outside, the night was deep and still. Looking up at the quiet Texas sky, one thought came to me: in these turbulent times, being able to hear a voice from Poland here in Houston is itself a meeting point of history. The world may seem divided, but in reality, our destinies are already tightly intertwined.